Incubator-alarm



W. H. CLARKE. INCUBATOR ALARM. APPLICATION FILED IULY s, 1919.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

WILLIAM H. CLARKE, 0F SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

INCUBATOR-ALARM.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

Application filed July 3, 1919. Serial No. 308,344.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, TVILLIAM H. CLARKE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Sydney, New South lVales, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubator Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has relation to the artificial raising of chickens and more particularly to the means whereby an alarm is sounded under abnormal conditions,such as an excessive rise in the temperature or a lowering of the temperature below a given degree.

The invention provides an alarm mechanism which may be applied to an incubator or like structure and which is automatic in operation after being installed and properly adjusted so that when the temperature of the incubator increases or lowers below predetermined. points a signal such as an alarm is sounded, thereby giving warning so that attention may be given in time to prevent serious loss.

The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meetdiifercnt conditions. various changes in the form proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the invention in its application to an incubator,

Figure 1 is a detail view in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view.

Fig. 3 is a reverse view of the support provided with the circuit closing means; and

Fig. i is a sectional detail on the line ll of Fig. 2 showing the parts on a larger scale.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing the numeral 1 designates part of an incubator having the invention applied thereto. The numeral 2 designates the chimney or flue of a lamp heater, such as commonly employed in connnection with incubator structures. A thermostat 3 of any approved construction is located within the incubator so as to be affected by the change of temperature therein. A lever 4 has one arm connected with the thermostat 8 by means of a rod 5. The other arm of the lever 4 is connected with one end of a pivoted member or lever 6. A damper 7 is connnected with the outer end of the member or lever 6 so as to move therewith and is arranged to control the draft through the chimney or flue 2 in a manner well understood. A post 8 secured to the incubator 1 pivotally supports the lever 4. A post 9 likewise secured to the incubator 1 pivotally supports the member 6. The inner and opposing ends of the levers i and 6 are positively connected so as to move in unison without causing any binding. One lever is formed with an elongated eye 10 which receives a lateral extension 11 of the companion lever.

A support 12 is mounted upon the incubator 1 and may be of any insulating material. Contact members 13 and 14 are scoured to the support 12. The contact members 13 and 14- may be of any conducting material. A terminal projection 15 extends from the inner end of the contact member 13. A similar terminal projection 16 extends from the inner end of the contact member 14. The projection 15 is disposed near the lower edge of the member 13 whereas the projection 16 is located near the upper edge of the member 14-. Contact members 17 and 18 are pivotally connected intermediate of their ends to the support 12 in such a manner as to admit of the outer end of the contact member 17 occupying a pendent position whereas the inner end of the contact member 18 normally occupies a posi tion lower than the outer end of said contact member. The normal positions of the pivoted contact members 17 and 18 are indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, the outer ends projecting beyond the support 12 and hav ing one end of the member 6 arranged to operate between them.

The alarm circuit comprises an audible signal 19 which may consist of an electric bell. A suitable battery 20 is located in circuit with the bell 19. A wire 21 connects one pole of the battery 20 with one binding post of the bell 19. A wire 22 connects the other pole of the battery with the fixed members 18 and 1 1-. A wire 23 connects the other pole of the battery 20 with the pivoted contact members 17 and 18. Under normal conditions the circuit is broken and the pivoted contact members 17 and 18 occupy the will thus be understood that the alarm oir-' 'cuit is closed when the temperature in the incubator exceeds agiven degree and when the temperature falls below a given degree,

thereby giving ample warning so that the difliculty maybe remedied and the parts restored to normal condition. Under ordinary conditions the damper 7 will control'the temperature, the alarm being sounded under abnormal conditions which cannot be automatically overcome by the damper 7 or equivalentpart provided for controlling the heat.

The foregoing description and the drawing have reference to what may be consid ered the preferred, or approved form of my invention. It is to be understoodthat I may make such changes-in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In an incubator alarm, a support having immovable contact-members fixed thereon to constitute terminals of an alarm circuit and each provided with a terminal projection forming a stop at the inner corner thereof, a contact-member pivoted eccentrically of its ends to the support, and adjacent each immovable contact in such manner as to admit of the outer ends of the contacts occupying 1 a position inwardly, and the inner ends outwardly, of the fulcrums of the movable contacts, and means operating between the outer ends of the movable members and movable against either one for causing its inner end to abut a stop of a fixed contact and thereby close the alarm circuit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. CLARKE; Witnesses: V

U. C. LEDEZ,

H. C. CAMPBELL. 

